Burnley narrowly avoided a Carabao Cup upset on Tuesday night, eventually overcoming a resilient Cardiff City side 4-3 on penalties after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.
The Clarets, fielding a much-changed side, were pushed all the way by their Championship rivals in a match that burst into life late in normal time. The deadlock was finally broken in the 83rd minute when Cardiff's Kion Etete capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire the visitors into a shock lead.
However, the home side's response was swift and decisive. Just four minutes later, substitute Mike Trésor delivered a stunning equaliser, curling a magnificent left-footed shot into the top corner to send the home fans into raptures and force the tie straight to a penalty shootout.
Nail-Biting Shootout Drama
The shootout was a tense affair, with both teams experiencing moments of fortune and despair. Burnley's goalkeeper, Lawrence Vigouroux, emerged as the hero, making a crucial save to deny Cardiff's Ollie Tanner.
The drama wasn't over, as Burnley's own Han-Noah Massengo saw his spot-kick saved, keeping Cardiff's hopes alive. Ultimately, it was Jaden Philogene who missed the decisive penalty for the Bluebirds, sending Burnley through to the fourth round amidst scenes of relief and celebration.
Rotation and Reaction
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany made nine changes to his starting lineup, a decision that nearly backfired. The introduction of key players from the bench, including the influential Trésor, proved critical in salvaging the tie.
The victory provides a welcome boost for the Clarets, who can now look forward to the fourth-round draw as they continue their campaign on two fronts.
